Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-11-05
AROUND THE WORLD.

that they were not quite up to the times
| Twas really SO, however. That yer
morning the legendary phileas Fogg ha
been beaten, outdoxe and shelved as on
who had ontlived his usefulness. And b.
whom? BY simple Partisan dude, b.
! our friend Louis Nernet, sympatheti
bou!evardier, but a person Of but littl
! consequence. Eccentric Albion steps dow
| from her pedestal and another legend i
cast TO the winds.
This is how it happened:
About three months ago, in the smokin!
room of a cafe on the boulevard, Loui
| Fernet was reading the theatrical new.
on the fourth page Of IA newspaper.
Hello. what is this" exclaimed h.
suddenly. Well, l declare; they ar,
sickening with their Around the WcIlt
in Eighty Days. Why, they will soon b.
trying 10 have us believe it was the thir
teenth labor of Herculesi''
''And still. sir" replied a voice with q
broad English accent, that Of person un
known to Louis Vernet. sit was, most as
suredly, great feat The best proof tha,
it was an undertaking of some ccnse
quence is that the amusing French writer
had to make one of my countrymen the
AN'' ehAA sa'eSt'St
Louis Vernet turned his head around
and coUlly replied:
"Well. for my part, l maintain that
your PhileaS Fogg was rs slow as a turtle.
and l would be willing to bet that could
do better than he"'
You would 60 around the world
in-.'
Lets say seventy days, if you wish"
I'm bet that you can't do it,
What will You wager?''
lone hundred thousand francs"
Louis Nernet scratched his head.
lone hundred Thousand francs" said
he. Il haven't that sum with me, nor at
home, either, for that matter. But il you
will kindly give me until tomorrow even
ing l shall see some of my friends who
will probably back me up, and then shall
he yours To commaad."
The stranger bowed, handed Louis Yer
net his card, and the two men took leave
Of each other.
This is why on Wednesday, November
the 10th, Louis Ncrnet gave a sigh of sat
isfaction aS he Set foot upon the quay at
Havre. He had left Paris on the Sth of
September and he had to I've back at noon
on the 18th OF November. He had wasted
no tine in travelling, and it was with no
little anxiety that on the 9th of Novem-
Der, he had embarked at New York on
the Marsouin. Would they reach Havre
or the 10Th as every one said they would:
There were many chances against it. The
east obstacle. the slightest flaw in the
machinery and all was lost. But the
Mnrsouin upheld her reputation rs the
hest French transatlantic steamer. At
the stated hour she was moored to the
docks at Ha-re, having crossed the Allan
tic ia less than seven days.
The gallant vessel, after this furious
race, seemed happy TO have chance to
rest, and the engines, as il fatigued by the
eyertions they had been making, beloved
as they blew off the steam, now no longer
needed, while the foot bridge discharged
upon the quay long stream of passengers
and porters carrying their baggage.
Louis Nernet turned around and cast a
look of gratitude upon the noble steamer.
He looked at his watch. Four O'Clock!
lie had ample time to dine comfortably
before taking the $40 express, which
would land him in Paris at 11:30 O'Clock
Was that right He looked at his time
table. As he ran over the columns Of fig
ures a smile fitted across his lips.
after all, why nots What is the use
Of going this evening. anyhow. 1t will
look as if were afraid Of being behind
time! No style about that, old man, no
style at ali! The chic, the pschutt, the
" Ian, is to arrive as late as one can, at
the last minute, if possible. That's the
way artists do when they want to make
a great hit. Now, there is a train leav-
ing il the morning, at 6:55, by which l
will get TO the ST. Lazare depot at II 80
Our rendezvous is fixed for IL O'Clock, in
he Office Of the Semaphore, just behind
the exchange. From the station to the
exchange will take me but eight minutes
IN the first hack come across. There
fore, there is nothing toprevent my reach
ing the French Semaphore Office at II
o'clock sharp. In this way l shall have
ell that are interested in the bet on the
l,ptoe of expectation until the very last
minute. That settles it; will not start
until Tomorrow"
Louis Vernet had his trunks taken to
the Crowned Dog hotel, the principal
house in Havre. He dined quietly, and
after his meal he smoked a good cigar
while taking walk about town. At 10
he returned to the hotel to go TO bed.
Monsieur" said he to the landlord be-
lore retiring, 81 have TO leave in the
morning by the G:55 train. Will you
promise to have me awakened in timef"
I'VE have for that purpose a trusty
waiter" replied the landlord. Monsieur
nay sleep on botn ears. He will not miss
his train"
Nevertheless if you have an alarm
lock that you can lend me would feel
more at ease"
"Why, certainly, sir. There is but one
IN the house-my own. You may have it."
Louis Nernet thanked the host and
went upstairs to his room. He set the
,iarm for 6 O'Clock, placed the clock on
he chitfonier near the head of his bed
md slept the sleep of the just.
He was still sound asleep when some
body shock his arm.
..Eh, sirl''
WHAT what is the matters'
The matter is that you just have
time" .
Time for whqts'
''To reach the station"
LOUIS Nernet glanced at the alarm
clo:k.
Half past six!'' cried he, in a voice Of
He sprang from his bed SO hastily that
he overturned the chitfonier, slipped on
bis pantalcons, drew off his nightshirt
aud threw it on the floor, dressed himself
ID five minutes, gathered up his scattered
effects in jiffy, strapped his trunk, few
down the stairs, four steps at time,
leaped into the omnibus which awaited
him, and only breathed freely when he
boarded the train.
Phew! that was a scarei And to say
that five minutes later his bet would have
been lost Frankly speaking it would have
been too stupid on his part. Anyhow, all
IS well tha; ends well. He had his ticket,
his baggage was checked, he was comfort
ably seated in good compartment, the
sounded its whistle and the